Plug for oil wells and similar purposes



Sept. 16 1924.

B. E. PARRISH PLUG FOR OIL WELLS ND SIMILAR PU-RPosEs Filed Oct. 30, 1922 attaining@ BENJAMIN EUGEN PARRISH, OF HONEYGROVE, TEXAS ASSIGNOR UF ONE-HALF 'T0 DARWIN W. MAURER, F DALLAS, TEXAS.

-PLUG FOR OIL WELLS AND SIMILAR-PURPOSES.

Application filed October 30, .1922. Serial No. 597,998.

T0 all whom z'tmay cof/wem:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN EUGENE PARRISH, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Honeygrove, inthe county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Plugs for Oil Wells and Similar Purposes,

- of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to an appliance or Atool adapted to be used as a plug or closure for the casing of an oil, gas or similar well. The general object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical appliance of the class described, which is provided with effective clutch or gripping means for envgaging well oasings for retaining the appliance in' position therein; to provide a valved passage within the implement, with valve controlling means, so that the valve is held open while the appliance is being l lowered to position to permit the free passage through the body of the appliance of fluids, such as oil or gas, and which operates when the plug is properly located in the casing to cause the closing of the valve and of the passage through the implement; and to provide effective means for sealing the small annular space between the body of the implement and the casing, so that in connection with the valve the appliance forms a very tight and eective seal to prevent the escape of liquid or gas.

A further object is to arrange the last named sealing means for cooperation withy the valve actuating means so that when the valve closes the exterior sealing means is rendered effective for the purpose above described.

'. The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further suliiciently described in connection with a detailed description of the accompanyin drawing, which shows one exemplifying em odiment of the invention.

' After considering this,`skilled persons will understand that' many variations may be made within the principles of the invention, and I contemplate the employment of any structures which are properly within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is. an exterior view of a complete implement or' plug embodying the invention in one form. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the plug.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the lower portion, these two parts ordinarily being joined at the broken line.

Fig. 4 is a section at 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section at 5-5, Fig. 3.

The implement comprises a main or'upper portion or body 1, substantially hollow and provided at one point with a valve seat 2.

Above the seat isa valve stem guide 3, which may be detachably inserted inthe body or, as in the present case, is connected to 1t by a web or partition 4f, provided with a plurality of apertures 5 to permit the passage of.

gas orliquid. The main structure or shell of the plug is completed' by a tubular lower portion 7,*screwed into the body at 8. A long valve stem 9 passes substantially entirely through the plug, and an upper portion of it is guided in the guide sleeve 3, and a lowerportion is guided in a bridge piece 10 inserted in the lower end of the tube 7. rIhe stem 9 carries a valve 11, located in a chamber- 12 formed in the body below the valve seat 2,. Desirably the valve has a beveled active face 13 cooperating with a similarly beveled face of the seat to insure a tight fit when the valve is closed.

The valve is urged to close by one or more springs, such as an upper spring 14 located about guide sleeve 3 and engaging a nut 15 screwed on the upper end of the valve stem and a lower spring 16 located abouta lower portion of the stem and enga 'ng against the bridge or guide piece 10 an a flange or washer 17 secured to stem 9. Either spring may be dispensed within some cases, and the Ving apparatus, and for this pur ose may be provided with a screw-threade shank 21. 4 The rod or pin 19 may vary in 1size and strength, as'suticiently explained hereafter. In one particular case it is desirable to have it of a rather small diameter and ofinore or less easily breakable material, such as soft l iron or a' piece of ordinary/'iron Wire.

The body is provided with expansive gripping members 25, the exact form and mode of operation of which may vary considerably. In the present case the members 25 are wedge pieces having part-cylindrical outer surfaces provided with teeth 26 directed upwardly and having beveled-'flat inner surfaces 27 engaging beveled surfaces 28 in the head, so that when the jaw members 25 slide downward in relation to the head they engage and grip a well casing or other tube intowhich the appliance is inserted, but when the gripping members are retained in upward position, as shown in Fig. 2, there is no gripping engagement with thecasing. rlhe members 25 are slidably secured by keys 29 moving in slots 30, centrally located in the body faces 28.

` These keys may be integral or separate and secured by screws 31, and they have flared inward edges 32 to prevent outward displacement of the jaws or grippers 26.

Where the appliance is to be used as a plug the connection at the point 19 is of a breakable nature, as above explained, and the valve .mechanism is in place and retained in open position, as above described, by the head 18. As the tool is lowered into the casing the jaw members`26 ride up freely as just above described, and any oil or other liquid or gas in the casing is permitted to flow upward freely through the hollow interior of the tool as the too'l descends, passing around the valve head 11 and through the-apertures 5 and out at the upper end where ample space is provided at the sides of the ears 20. rllhere is thus no substantial impediment to the ready lowering of the appliancev to the desired position. When that point is reached the lowering rope is pulled up moderately to produce an initial engagement of the jaws 25 with the casin and then a much harder pull is applic which first seats the jaw teeth still more firmly in the casing and then breaks the pin 19, releasing the lowering or hoisting means, including the head 18, and leaving the plug in the casing, `and' Vat `the same `time the withdrawal of the head 18 releases the vvalve stem which is moved up by its spring or springs and the valve is closed, thus cutting 0H any upward passage of liquid or gas and substantially sealing the casing.`

-Since it is desirable to make the maximum outside diameter of the appliance slightlyl less than the inner diameter of the casing to insure free movement of the tool toposition, it is desirable in many cases toprovide additional sealing means to insure .the com# plete sealing of the space between the outside of the tool and the inside of the casing.

t Such means is provided in the present instance as follows: A long cylindrical sleeve or washer 40 of rubber, rubber composition orxother suitablevmaterial, is located about 'a substantially hollow body,

necesa@ the tube 7 and has one end confronting a shoulder 41,formed by thelower end of the body 1 and the other end is engaged by a ring or washer 42 slidably mounted on the tube'A 7. The ring 42 is -acted upon by a helical'spring 43 of substantial strength, the spring being compressed between the ring 42 and a washer 44 which is held on the lower end of tube 7 by a locking ring'45. Normally the slidable ring 42-is held down so that the spring is compressed and the packing sleeve 40 is relieved of any compression effect by any suitable means, which in the present case cooperates with the valve stem as follows: 'llhe ring 42 is provided with an interior annular groove 46 engaged by one or more, usually a plurality, of pawls 47, pivoted in va body 48, which is secured to the valve stem. The pawls normall extend out throughl slots 49 in tube 7, sufficiently so that their outer corners 50 engage in the groove 46. The pawls are urged to this outer position by flat springs 51 bearing against inner edges of the pawls and 'carried by a sleeve or collar 52 secured to the valve stem 9.

Evidently so long as the valve `stem is held down in the manner previously described, the pawls 47 are in positlon inv engagement with the slidable ring 42 and the' packing compressing spring 43 is kept from exerting any expansive effect upon the packing sleeve 40, which under the described conditions has its outer diameter slightly less 'than the inner diameter of thecasing.

'llhe tool/is then lowered in position, as

above described, and when the valve stem is released by the breaking of pin 19 or in any -other equivalent Way, the upward movement of the valve stem retracts the pawls 47 inwardly and upwardly and the ring 42 is 'released and spring 43 moves the ring up against thelower end of the packing sleeve 40 and forcibly lcompresses the packing 'sleeve endwise, causing it to expand radially some cases after the plug is located, cement may be poured into the hole to make'a more permanent seal, but in many cases this 1s vunnecessary and may be considered more in the nature of an added precaution.

1. In an appliance of thel class described, lowering means, an internal valve seat and a cooperating valve, and means for closing the valve when the lowering means is disconnected, the lowering means being arranged when in actiye position to definitely prevent valve closing.

2. lin a well tool of the class described, a

substantially hollow body, casing grippin v'means thereon, loweringY means for the too an internal valve seat and va cooperating valve, and means for closing the valve when the lowering connection is disconnected, the lowering means being arranged when in active position to definitely prevent valve closin 3. n a well tool of the class described, a substantially tubular main structure or body having a valve seat, a valve cooperating with the seat, spring means urging the valve to close, and al disconnectible lower-Y of the valve when said device is remove and a breakable connection between said lowering device andthe body.

5. In well tool of the-class described, a substantially tubular main structure or body havin a valve seat, a valve cooperating with t e seat, spring means urging the valve `to close, a lowering connection disconnectibly engaging the body and also engaging the valve stem and retaining the valve lopen and acting. to releasethe stem and permit closing of the-valve when said connection is disconnected, and casing grippin means on' said bod actuated by upwar movement of the bo y.

. 6. In a well tool of the class' described, a substantially tubular main structure or body having a valve seat, a valve stem arranged for longitudinal movement in the body and having a valve to cooperate with the seat, spring means urging the valve to close, a lowering device engaging the valve stein and retaining the valve open and acting to release the stem and permit closing of the valve when said device is removed, a breakable connection between said lowering device and the body, and casing -grippin meanson said body actuated by-upwar movement of the body.

7. A well appliance of theV class described,

comprisinga mam plug or body structure,

casing grip ing means thereon, a lowering connection isconnectibly engaged with the body, an exterior packing, and means for expanding the packing in engagement with the casing after the tool is located at a dcsired point in the casing.

8. A well tool appliance of the class de- A compress the packin scribed, comprising a main plug or body structure, casing gripping means thereon, a valve seatand valve, a lowering connection an exterior' packing, `and means actively tending -to expandv the packing in engagement with the casing after the tool is located at a desired point in the casing.

9. A well appliance of the class described, comprising a main plug or body structure, casing gripping means thereon, a lowering connection, an exterior packing, and means for expanding the packing in engagement with the casing when the lowering connection is disconnected, -the lowering connection serving while in normal position to prevent operation of the packing expanding means.l

10. A well appliance Vof the class described, comprising a main plug or body structure, casing 'gripping means"` thereon, a valve seat and valve, a lowering connection,

an exterior packing, land means for expanding the packing in engagement with the.

casingwhen the lowering connection is disconnected, the lowering connection serving while in normal position to prevent operation of the packin 'expanding means.-

11. lA well app iance of the. class described, comprising a main plug or body structure, casing gripping means thereon, a compressible .and expansible packing sleeve on the exterior of the appliance, a spring to sleeve longitudinally andr expand it radia y means for holding the spring inactive, a lowering connection for the tool, and means acting upon disconnection of the lowering connection to retract said spring holdin means and permit the spring to expand t e packing sleeve.

12. A well appliance of the class def scribed, comprising a main plug or body to close, a disconnectible 'lowering connec tion arranged 'to maintain the valve ppen, a packing member, means for operating the packing member,l and means for holding said packing operating means inactive while the valvefis held open.

14.'A well tool of the class described comprising a substantially tubular body having a valve seata movable valve, spring means urging the valve to close, a lowering packing connection including and arranged to maintain the valve open, a

', ing provided with a valve seat, a valve stem movable longitudinally in the body and tubular member, guide means ,for the valve stem, a valve on the stem cooperating with the seat, spring means acting on the valve stem to close the valve, a disconnectible. lowering member, the member normally engaging the valve stem and holding the valve open, 'casmg gripping means on the body, a packing sleeve located on said tubular member, a-spring to expand the packing sleeve,

means to retain the spring inactive, and means acting upon movement of the valve `stem to withdraw .the spring retaining means.

a breakable member.

Leoaeae 16. A y well appliance of the class olescribed, comprising a substantially tubular upper'body portion, a lower tubular member extending from the body, the body being provided with a valve seat, a valve stem movable longitudinally in the body and tubular member, upper and lower guides for the valve stem, a valve on the stem cooperating with the seat, spring means acting on the valve stem to close the valve, a lowering member, a breakable pin securing the member to the body, the member normally engaging the valve stem and holding the valve open, casing gripping means on the body, a packing sleeve located on said tubular member, a spring to compress and expand the packing sleeve, means to retain the spring inactive, and means acting upon movement of the valve to withdraw the spring retaining means.

Signed at American consulate, Tampico, Mexico, this 11th day of September, A. D. 1922.

BENJAMlN EUGENE PARRliSH. 

